A Lakeville historical presentation recounted the harrowing survival story of 26 school children and their bus driver during the devastating Armistice Day Blizzard of November 11, 1940.

The presentation detailed how Arnold Saber, a 25-year-old bus driver, made life-saving decisions when his school bus became stranded in massive snow drifts just two miles west of Lakeville. The day had started mild and sunny, but by mid-afternoon, a severe blizzard struck with no advance weather warning systems available at the time.

When the bus transmission failed and gasoline ran low around 7 p.m., Saber led the children in a human chain through blinding snow to reach a nearby farm. The students, dressed only in light clothing and skirts, suffered frostbite during the quarter-mile trek to shelter. After determining the farm was not suitable for extended shelter, Saber and two older boys walked two miles through snow drifts to his family's farm to retrieve horses and a box sled.

The rescue operation brought all children safely to Lakeville, where local families housed them and the movie theater operator provided entertainment. Saber treated the children to meals at a local cafe and ensured families were contacted, though some parents remained unaware of their children's safety for over 24 hours due to limited telephone access.

The presentation highlighted how the community rallied to care for the stranded students, with families taking children into their homes for three days until transportation home became possible. The account emphasized Saber's leadership during the crisis and the broader impact of the historic blizzard that claimed many lives across Minnesota.